Master of Social Work (MSW)

Admission

Admission Requirements

• Applicants to the program must meet the following admission requirements:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• 24 credit hours in the liberal arts.
• Online Graduate Application for Admission.
• Resumé.
• Professional statement (Professional Guidelines for Writing your Statement.)
• Two confidential reference letters (one academic and one professional. No personal references accepted).
• Unofficial transcripts from every institution where coursework has been taken and applied toward the undergraduate degree. Official transcripts can be sent to the Saint Louis University Graduate Admissions office upon acceptance.

All students are automatically considered for scholarships through Saint Louis University.

Apply Now

You will be transferred to the Saint Louis University online application, which will collect your education history and ask for your professional statement and resume. 

Tuition Information

Tuition and fees are paid directly to Saint Louis University.

In the spirit of the Xavier Loyal Musketeer program, Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Social Work (SSW) is offering a 20% tuition reduction as a Jesuit promise to the Xavier graduates. All Xavier alumni who enroll in the Saint Louis University Master of Social Work program in Fall 2023 are eligible for this tuition reduction. This offer applies to graduate degree-seeking students for both part-time and full-time enrollment, with a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester.

SLU-SSW accepts admissions at any time, and you can upload an unofficial transcript to begin the process. For a Fall 2023 start, the priority registration deadline is April 1. 100% of new graduate students in 2023 will receive scholarship support thanks to our generous alumni and benefactors. SLU offers a packaged price with no additional fees, and your tuition is locked in for the duration of your program. You may also qualify for federal graduate student loans. Plus, incoming students receive one semester of paid practicum experience while fulfilling your course requirements.

The new flat-rate tuition pricing is:

• $48,000 (48 credit hours) for those who have an undergraduate degree in something other than Social Work (Foundational MSW);
• $30,000 (30 credit hours) for those who have a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from a CSWE accredited undergraduate program and earned a B or better in their social work courses. (Advanced Standing).

Sample Curriculum

The MSW program is highly flexible and tailored to different types of social work. Students can choose to specialize in either the clinical track or the community and organization track.

Clinical Concentration: Prepares students for advanced clinical practice serving children, youth, adults and families. This concentration assumes a holistic view that incorporates the political, environmental, psychosocial, biological and spiritual dimensions of clinical social work practice.

Community and Organization Concentration: Prepares students for advanced practice focusing on social problems and societal change at the community and organizational levels.

Courses can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Students may apply at any time.

Courses with an asterisk are on campus at Xavier.

Advanced Standing, Part-time, 2 years

Fall I (6 hours)

• 5734 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment Part II (3-credits)
• 5784* – Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3-credits)

Spring I (9 hours)

• 5707 – Policy Practice for Social Justice (3-credits)
• 5762* – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3-credits)
• Elective

Summer I (6 hours)

• 5700* – Values and Ethics (3-credits)
• Elective

Fall II (6 hours)

• Two electives

Spring II (6 hours)

• 5733 – Advanced Clinical Practice (3-credits)
• 5820* – Clinical Practicum Seminar (1-credit) AND
• 5842* – Clinical Practicum I (2-credits)

Summer II (6 hours)

• 5843* – Clinical Practicum II (3-credits)
• Elective

Advanced Standing, Full-time, 1 year

Fall (12 hours)

• 5734 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment Part II (3-credits)
• 5784* – Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3-credits)
• Two electives (6-credits)

Spring (15 hours)

• 5707 – Policy Practice for Social Justice (3-credits)
• 5733 – Advanced Clinical Practice (3-credits)
• 5762* – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3-credits)
• 5820* – Clinical Practicum Seminar (1-credit) AND
• 5842* – Clinical Practicum I (2-credits)
• Elective (3-credits)

Summer (12 hours)

• 5700* – Values and Ethics (3-credits)
• 5843* – Clinical Practicum II (3-credits)
• Two electives (6-credits)

Foundation Part-time, 3 years

Fall I (6 hours)

• 5725 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3-credits)
• 5750* – Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3-credits)

Spring I (6 hours)

• 5751 – Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations (3-credits)
• 5787* – Research for Evidence-Informed Research Practice (3-credits)

Summer I (6 hours)

• 5702 – Social Policy (3-credits)
• 5819* – Foundation Practicum Seminar (1-credit) AND
• 5841* – Foundation (Generalist) Practicum (2-credits)

Fall II (6 hours)

• 5734 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment Part II (3-credits)
• 5784* – Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3-credits)

Spring II (9 hours)

• 5707 – Policy Practice for Social Justice (3-credits)
• 5762* – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3-credits)
• Elective (3-credits)

Summer II (6 hours)

• 5700* – Values and Ethics (3-credits)
• Elective (3-credits)

Fall III (6 hours)

• Two electives (6-credits)

Spring III (6 hours)

• 5733 – Advanced Clinical Practice (3-credits)
• 5820 – Clinical Practicum Seminar (1-credit) AND
• 5842 – Clinical Practicum I (2-credits)

Summer III (6 hours)

• 5843 – Clinical Practicum II (3-credits)
• Elective (3-credits)

Foundation Full-time, 48 credit hours, 2 years

Fall I (6 hours)

• 5725 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3-credits)
• 5750* – Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3-credits)

Spring I (9 hours)

• 5702 – Social Policy (3-credits)
• 5751 – Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations (3-credits)
• 5787* – Research for Evidence-Informed Research Practice (3-credits)

Summer I (6 hours)

• 5707 – Policy Practice for Social Justice (3-credits)
• 5819* – Foundation Practicum Seminar (1-credit) AND
• 5841* – Foundation (Generalist) Practicum (2-credits)

Fall II (9 hours)

• 5734 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment Part II (3-credits)
• 5784* – Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3-credits)
• Elective (3-credits)

Spring II (9 hours)

• 5733 – Advanced Clinical Practice (3-credits)
• 5762 – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3-credits)
• 5820* – Clinical Practicum Seminar (1-credit) AND
• 5842* – Clinical Practicum I (2-credits)

Summer II (9 hours)

• 5700* – Values and Ethics (3-credits)
• 5843* – Clinical Practicum II (3-credits)
• Electives (3-credits)

Sample Courses

Online Courses:

SWRK 5702 Social Policy (3-credits)
SWRK 5707 Policy Practice for Social Justice (3-credits)
SWRK 5725 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3-credits)
SWRK 5733 Advanced Clinical Practice (3-credits)
SWRK 5734 Human Behavior and the Social Environment Part II (3-credits)
SWRK 5742 Evidence-Based Practice in Community Mental Health (3-credits)
SWRK 5744 Substance Use Disorder Interventions (3-credits)
SWRK 5745 Health & Mental Health Interventions with Older Adults
SWRK 5751 Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations (3-credits)
SWRK 5755 Social Work Practice in the Health Field (3-credits)
SWRK 5772 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (3-credits)
SWRK 5786 Death, Dying, & Grief: Professional Practice & Self-Awareness

Face-to-Face at Xavier University:

SWRK 5700 Values and Ethics (3-credits)
SWRK 5750 Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3-credits)
SWRK 5762 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3-credits)
SWRK 5784 Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3-credits)
SWRK 5787 Research Methods I (3-credits)
SWRK 5819 Foundation Practicum Seminar (1-credit)
SWRK 5820 Clinical Practicum Seminar (1-credit)
SWRK 5841 Foundation (Generalist) Practicum (2-credits)
SWRK 5842 Clinical Practicum I (2-credits)
SWRK 5843 Clinical Practicum II (3-credits)